KR20010050231A - Vacuum-Generating Unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce size and weight by decreasing size in a width direction approximately orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of a body part. CONSTITUTION: A first communication passage 48 communicating with a compressed air feed port 36, a sixth passage 64 communicating a vacuum port 62, and an eight passage 116 communicating with an exhaust port 38 for an electromagnetic valve are disposed approximately in parallel to each other. Besides, a solenoid valve 22 for feeding pressure fluid, a solenoid valve 24 for vacuum fracture, a flow rate regulating screw 114, a suction filter 94, and a vacuum pressure switch 96 are disposed, in the order, in series to a body part 20.

Description

Vacuum Generating Unit {Vacuum-Generating Unit}

The present invention relates, for example, to a vacuum generating unit capable of supplying negative pressure to an adsorption means such as an adsorption pad.

Conventionally, a vacuum generating unit has been used as a means for supplying negative pressure to a suction pad. The vacuum generating unit generally includes an ejector used to generate a negative pressure, a vacuum port connected to an adsorption means such as a pad for adsorption through a tube, and a pressure fluid supply for supplying or blocking compressed air to the ejector and the vacuum port. And a valve mechanism provided with a solenoid valve for vacuum and a solenoid valve for vacuum destruction, and a vacuum switch unit for detecting underpressure generated in the vacuum port.

The schematic operation of such a vacuum generating unit according to the prior art will be described.

The negative pressure is generated by supplying compressed air to the ejector through the valve mechanism. The negative pressure generated by the ejector is supplied to the adsorption pad through a tube connected to the vacuum port, and the work is adsorbed by the negative pressure generated on the adsorption pad. In this way, the workpiece adsorbed and held on the suction pad is conveyed to a predetermined position under the displacement action of the robot arm.

Subsequently, when the workpiece supported by the suction pad is separated, the negative pressure of the suction pad is released as the compressed air is transferred to the suction pad through a passage communicating from the valve mechanism part to the vacuum port. As a result, the workpiece is conveyed to a predetermined position away from the pad for adsorption.

Conventionally, there is a request to reduce the size and weight as much as possible by reducing the size of the width direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the body portion. For example, when a plurality of vacuum generating units are extended to manifold, as the width of the main body portion is reduced in size, a considerably smaller and lighter solenoid valve manifold can be obtained and the installation space can be effectively used.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described request, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum generating unit that can be reduced in size and weight by reducing the size of the width direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the body portion.

1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view along the axial direction of a vacuum generating unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a perspective view seen from the arrow A direction of FIG.

3 is a perspective view seen from the arrow B direction of FIG.

4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the first ON / OFF valve constituting the vacuum generating unit of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram when the valve plug of the first ON / OFF valve of FIG. 4 is displaced in the right direction and is turned on;

6 is an exploded perspective view showing the fastening means of the first casing and the second casing constituting the vacuum pressure switch;

7 is a circuit diagram of the vacuum generating unit shown in FIG.

(Explanation of the sign)

10: vacuum generating unit 12, 14, 16, 18: block member

20: main body 22: solenoid valve for pressure fluid supply 24: solenoid valve for vacuum destruction

28: nozzle 30: diffuser 32: ejector 36: pressure air supply port

38: Solenoid valve exhaust port 40, 44: Chambers 42, 46: ON / OFF valve

48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 64, 70, 98, 116: passage 58, 60: pilot passage

62: vacuum port 72: valve plug 94: suction filter 96: vacuum pressure switch

102, 104: casing 110: protrusion 112: fastening hole portion

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a vacuum generating unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The vacuum generating unit 10 is a main body of the first block member 12, the second block member 14, the third block member 16 and the fourth block member 18 connected in series along the longitudinal direction. Part 20; A solenoid valve (26) comprising a solenoid valve (22) for supplying pressure fluid and a solenoid valve (24) for vacuum destruction disposed on an upper surface of the main body (20); An ejector portion 32 disposed inside the main body portion 20 and having a nozzle 28 and a diffuser 30; And a detector 34 for checking a suction state of the workpiece mounted on the fourth block member 18. The nozzle 28 may be integrally formed with the second block member 14. The pressure fluid supply solenoid valve 22 and the vacuum release solenoid valve 24 each have the same component and are set to a normal cross type. The pressure fluid supply solenoid valve 22 and vacuum release solenoid valve 24 are not limited to the normal cross type, but are not shown in the normally open type solenoid valve, a self-supporting solenoid valve, or a solenoid valve with a timer. You can also use

The first to fourth block members 12, 14, 16, and 18 have substantially the same width and are formed in a flat thin wall structure (see FIGS. 2 and 3). One side of the first block member 12 is formed with a compressed air supply port (pressure fluid supply port: 36) for supplying compressed air to the ejector unit 32, which is adjacent to the compressed air supply port 36 On the upper side, an exhaust port 38 for the solenoid valve is formed. In the chamber 40 of the first block member 12, a first ON / OFF valve 42, which is switched from the off state to the on state under the supply of the pilot pressure, is disposed, and the second block member 14 is disposed. In the chamber 44, a second ON / OFF valve 46 for switching from the off state to the on state under the supply action of the pilot pressure is disposed.

The compressed air supply port 36 communicates with the first passage 48 extending by a predetermined length along a substantially central portion of the first block member 12 and the second block member 14, and the first passage 48. The second passage 50 which is branched from the head) and communicates with the solenoid valve 22 for pressure fluid supply and the third passage 52 which communicates with the solenoid valve 24 for vacuum breakdown are formed.

In addition, a fourth passage 54 branched from the first passage 48 and communicating with the first ON / OFF valve 42 and a fifth passage 56 communicating with the second ON / OFF valve 46 are provided. And the compressed air is supplied to the first ON / OFF valve 42 and the second ON / OFF valve 46 through the fourth passage 54 and the fifth passage 56, respectively.

The first ON / OFF valve 42 is operated between the pressure fluid supply solenoid valve 22 and the first ON / OFF valve 42 by operating the pressure fluid supply solenoid valve 22 to be in an ON state. The first pilot passage 58 for supplying a pilot pressure is formed, and the vacuum release solenoid valve 24 is provided between the vacuum release solenoid valve 24 and the second ON / OFF valve 46. The second pilot passage 60 for supplying the pilot pressure to the second ON / OFF valve 46 is formed as it is operated and turned on.

A sixth passage 64 is formed between the nozzle 28 forming the ejector portion 32 and the diffuser 30 so as to communicate with the vacuum port 62 and extend substantially in parallel with the first passage 48. The negative pressure generated in the ejector unit 32 is supplied to adsorption means such as an adsorption pad (not shown) connected through a tube or the like. The diffuser 30 communicates with the exhaust port 66 formed in the third block member 16, and the compressed air supplied to the ejector portion 32 communicates with the air exhaust port (discharge port 66). 68: see FIG. 7).

A seventh passage 70 communicating with the sixth passage 64 and extending substantially in parallel to the second ON / OFF valve 46 is connected, and the second ON / OFF valve 46 is turned on. As the compressed air is supplied through the seventh passage 70. Therefore, as the compressed air (static pressure) is supplied to the sixth passage 64 communicating with the vacuum port 62, the negative pressure state is released.

The first ON / OFF valve 42 and the second ON / OFF valve 46 each have the same components, and as shown in FIG. It has a plug 72 and a retainer 74 formed in a cylindrical shape so as to surround the valve plug 72 and fixed in the chamber 40. On the outer circumferential surface of one side of the valve plug 72 is mounted a first ring member 78 which is landed on the landing portion 76 of the retainer 74 to close the chamber 40, the valve plug 72 On the outer circumferential surface of the other end of the second ring member 80 is perturbed along the inner wall surface of the retainer 74. The first and second ring members 78 and 80 are made of an elastic material such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber.

In addition, the valve plug 72 is formed with a stepped annular groove 82 extending from the center of the valve plug 72 to the first ring member 78, and is formed in the stepped portion 84 of the retainer 74. As the abutment is made, a stopper portion 8 6 is provided which regulates the displacement amount in the right direction of the valve plug 72. The retainer 74 is provided with a hole portion 8 8 which communicates with the stepped annular groove 82. Reference numeral 90 denotes a packing and reference numeral 92 denotes an O-ring.

Under the action of the compressed air supplied through the fourth passage 54, the valve plug 72 is displaced to the left as shown in FIG. 4, and the first ring member 78 is attached to the retainer 74. The first ON / OFF valve 42 is turned off because the chamber 40 is closed by landing on the branch 76. On the other hand, the valve plug 72 is displaced in the right direction by the pilot pressure supplied through the first pilot passage 58 under the action of the pressure fluid supply solenoid valve 22. As the first ring member 78 is separated from the landing portion 76, the first ON / OFF valve 42 is turned on. In this case, the compressed air supplied through the fourth passage 54 passes through the space between the stepped annular groove 82 and the first ring member 78 and the landing portion 76 as shown in the arrow direction of FIG. 5. To the ejector unit 32.

Accordingly, when the first ON / OFF valve 42 is in the OFF state, the supply of compressed air to the ejector unit 32 is stopped, and the compressed air is turned on as the first ON / OFF valve 42 is turned ON. It is supplied to the ejector unit 32.

As shown in FIG. 1, the detector 34 includes a suction filter 94 for removing dust and the like contained in the air sucked from the vacuum port 62 under a negative pressure, and a semiconductor pressure sensor not shown therein. Is installed, and includes a vacuum pressure switch 96 for deriving a detection signal when the preset threshold is reached. The suction filter 94 and the vacuum pressure switch 96 are respectively hermetically connected to the fourth block member 18.

The vacuum pressure switch 96 introduces a negative pressure supplied to the pad for adsorption through the passage 98 communicating with the sixth passage 64 and converts the negative pressure of the introduced pressure fluid by a semiconductor pressure sensor (not shown). It detects the adsorption state of the workpiece upon detection. In addition, it is preferable to provide a filter (not shown) for protecting the semiconductor pressure sensor not shown in the passage 98. In addition, the operation means of the vacuum pressure switch 96 may be a trimmer type or a push type including an up button and a down button.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the vacuum pressure switch 96 includes a first casing 102 and a second casing 104 connected integrally through the fastening means 100, and the first casing 102 and the first casing 102. The circuit board 106 and the cover plate 108 are provided in the inner space formed by the two casings 104. As shown in FIG. The fastening means 100 is formed on the side wall surface of the second casing 104 and the plurality of protrusions 110 formed on the side wall surface near the opening of the first casing 102, the protrusion 110 is inserted It is composed of a fastening hole (112).

1, reference numeral 114 denotes a flow rate adjustment screw for adjusting the flow rate of the vacuum breaking pressure fluid flowing through the seventh passage 70 as the second ON / OFF valve 46 is turned on. Reference numeral 116 denotes an eighth passage communicating with the solenoid valve 22 for pressure fluid supply, the solenoid valve 24 for vacuum release, and the exhaust port 38 for the solenoid valve, respectively. The eighth passage 116 is disposed to be substantially parallel to the first passage 48.

The vacuum generating unit 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is basically configured as described above, and its operation and effect will be described based on the circuit configuration shown in FIG. In the basic state, the solenoid valve 22 for supplying the pressure fluid and the solenoid valve 24 for vacuum release are estimated to be in the off state, respectively.

Compressed air supplied from an unshown compressed air supply source is introduced into the first passage 48 through the compressed air supply port 36. The compressed air introduced into the first passage 48 is supplied into the chamber 40 of the first ON / OFF valve 42 in communication with the first passage 48, and under the action of the compressed air, the valve plug 72 Is displaced to the left, and the first ON / OFF valve 42 is turned off.

In this state, the solenoid valve 22 for supplying the pressure fluid is turned on by the on signal output from the controller (not shown). At this time, the vacuum release solenoid valve 24 remains off. As the pressure fluid supply solenoid valve 22 is turned on, the pilot pressure is supplied to the first ON / OFF valve 42 through the first pilot passage 58, and the pressure action of the pilot pressure is performed. As a result, the valve plug 72 is displaced in the right direction so that the first ON / OFF valve 42 is turned on. As the first ON / OFF valve 42 is turned on, the compressed air introduced into the first passage 48 is supplied to the ejector unit 32 through the first ON / OFF valve 42.

In the ejector portion 32, negative pressure is generated as the compressed air is discharged from the nozzle hole of the nozzle 28 toward the diffuser 30, and the negative pressure is a tube connected to the sixth passage 64 and the vacuum port 62. It is supplied to the adsorption pad not shown through.

Therefore, when the robot arm is not shown, the suction pad contacts the workpiece, and when the suction pad sucks the workpiece under the negative pressure, the negative pressure rises again, and this negative pressure is not shown in the vacuum pressure switch 96. It is detected by the semiconductor pressure sensor. The adsorption confirmation signal detected by the semiconductor pressure sensor is transferred to a controller not shown, and the controller confirms that the workpiece is surely adsorbed by the adsorption pad as the adsorption confirmation signal is received.

Next, a description will be given of a case where the work is moved by a predetermined distance, and then the negative pressure of the suction pad is released to release the work to a predetermined position.

The controller not shown introduces an OFF signal to the solenoid valve 22 for pressure fluid supply. As a result, as the pressure fluid supply solenoid valve 22 is turned off, the first ON / OFF valve 42 is turned off, the supply of compressed air to the ejector portion 32 is stopped, and the vacuum port. From 62, the supply of the negative pressure to the adsorption pad is stopped.

On the other hand, the controller not shown leads the on-signal to the vacuum release solenoid valve 24 to turn on the vacuum release solenoid valve 24. As the vacuum release solenoid valve 24 is turned on, the pilot pressure is supplied to the second ON / OFF valve 46 through the second pilot passage 60, and under the pressure action of the pilot pressure. The valve plug 72 is displaced in the right direction and the second ON / OFF valve 46 is turned on. As the second ON / OFF valve 46 is turned on, the compressed air introduced into the first passage 48 passes through the second ON / OFF valve 46 and the seventh passage 70 and the sixth passage. It is supplied to the vacuum port 62 via the passage 64. As a result, the compressed air (static pressure) supplied from the compressed air supply port 36 is supplied to the adsorption pad via the vacuum port 62, and the adsorption state to the workpiece of the adsorption pad is released.

As the workpiece is separated from the suction pad, the workpiece is brought into the atmospheric pressure from the negative pressure state, and the atmospheric pressure is detected by a semiconductor pressure sensor (not shown), and the semiconductor pressure sensor transmits the workpiece release signal to the controller (not shown). The controller checks whether the workpiece is released from the suction pad as the workpiece release signal is received. In this way, the adsorption pad can be reliably separated.

In this embodiment, the first passage 48 communicates with the compressed air supply port 36, the sixth passage 64 communicates with the vacuum port 62, and the agent communicates with the exhaust port 38 for the solenoid valve. Each of the eight passages 116 is disposed substantially parallel to each other, the first ON / OFF valve 42 is disposed under the main body 20, and the second ON / OFF valve 46 is disposed on the upper side, respectively. 1 is disposed substantially parallel to the passage (48). In this embodiment, the solenoid valve 22 for supplying the pressure fluid, the solenoid valve 24 for vacuum release, the flow adjusting screw 114, the suction filter 94 and the vacuum pressure switch 96 are placed on the upper portion of the main body 20. ), Each in series.

According to this arrangement, the size of the width direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the main body 20 can be suppressed, and the size and weight can be reduced. Therefore, the space in which the vacuum generating unit 10 is installed can be reduced. It can be used effectively.

In this embodiment, the first casing 102 and the second casing 10 4 of the vacuum pressure switch 96 are integrally connected by fastening means consisting of a plurality of protrusions 110 and fastening holes 112. Therefore, there is an advantage that the assembly work can be easily performed.

In addition, a plurality of the vacuum generating units 10 according to the present embodiment may be manifolded.

According to the present invention, the size of the width direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the main body portion can be suppressed to reduce the size and weight. Therefore, the space in which the vacuum generating unit is installed can be effectively used.

Claims (6)

A pressure fluid supply port 36 connected to the pressure fluid supply source, a vacuum port 62 connected to the adsorption means, and a discharge port 66 for discharging the pressure fluid supplied from the pressure fluid supply port 36 to the outside are provided. The main body 20, An ejector unit 32 for generating a negative pressure under the action of the pressure fluid supplied from the pressure fluid supply port 36; The solenoid valve part 26 and the detection part 34 mounted in the said main-body part 20 are provided, The passage 48 communicating with the pressure fluid supply port 36, the passage 64 communicating with the vacuum port 62, and the passage 116 communicating with the exhaust port 38 for the solenoid valve are substantially parallel to each other. Vacuum generating unit, characterized in that the excreted. The solenoid valve 22 for pressure fluid supply, the solenoid valve for vacuum breakdown 24, the flow control screw 114, the filter 94, and the vacuum pressure switch 96 are provided in the main body part 20. Vacuum generating unit characterized in that the discharge in series in order. 4. The first ON / OFF valve 42 and the second ON / OFF valve 46 are disposed substantially parallel to the passage 48 in communication with the pressure fluid supply port 36. The first on / off valve 42 is switched from the off state to the on state under the action of the pilot pressure supplied from the pressure fluid supply solenoid valve 22, and the second on / off valve 46 is vacuumed. A vacuum generating unit, characterized in that switching from the off state to the on state under the action of the pilot pressure supplied from the solenoid valve 24 for destruction. According to claim 2, wherein the vacuum pressure switch 96 has a first casing 102 and the second casing 104, a plurality of protrusions 11 formed in the first casing 102, the second casing ( The first casing 102 and the second casing 104 are assembled by inserting into a plurality of fastening holes 112 formed in the 104, respectively. According to claim 1, wherein the main body portion 20 is formed of a flat thin wall structure, respectively, the first block 12, the second block 14, the third block 16 and the first connected in series along the longitudinal direction Four blocks 18, the first block 12, the second block 14, the third block 16 and the fourth block 18 are each substantially the same width (W) Vacuum generating unit having a). The valve plug 72 and the valve of claim 3, wherein the first ON / OFF valve 42 and the second ON / OFF valve 46 are disposed to be substantially displaced by a predetermined distance in a substantially horizontal direction. A retainer 74 formed in a cylindrical shape to surround the plug 72 and fixed in the chamber 40, and installed on one side of the valve plug 72 and landing on the landing portion 76 of the retainer 74. The first ring member 78 to close the chamber 40, and the second ring member 80 installed on the other side of the valve plug 72 and perturbing along the inner wall surface of the retainer 74. A vacuum generating unit, characterized in that the same component including.